Clam-shell bucket.



PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906. R. W. KALTENBACH 62; J. GRIESS, JR.

GLAM SHELL BUGKBT.

APPLICATION FILED 001325. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WIT 111588:

ATTORNEY-T No. 823.412. PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906. R. W. KALTENBAGH & J. GRIESS, JR.

GLAM SHELL BUCKET. APPLICATION FILED 00125. 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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No. 823,412. PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906.

(PH & J. GRIESS, JR GLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED 00125. 1905.

R. W. KALTENBA 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IN ENTORS Arm/Mrs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

ROBERT W. KALTENBAOH, OF BEDFORD, AND J USTlN GRIESS, JR, OF

' CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CLAM-SHELL BUCKET- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1906.

Application filed October 25, 1905. Serial No. 284.356.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ROBERT W. KALTEN- BACH, residing at Bedford, and JUsTrN GRIEss, Jr. residing at Cleveland, county of ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in clam-shell buckets comprising two oppositelyarranged scoops, trays, or bucket-sections having cutting edges at the bottom and forward ends and pivotally supported as required to render them ca able of being swung from and toward each ot er to open and close the bucket, respectively.

One object of this invention is to so relatively arrange the parts of the actuating mechanism of the bucket as will bring the center of gravity of the bucket low enough to prevent tipping of the bucket when the bucket is landed on an uneven pile of material.

Another object is to pivotally attach the bars or links, which are pivotally connected to the rear portions of the trays, to the trayactuating levers, with the pivotal connections between each bar or link and the connected lever arranged below and at the sides of the axis of a bail with which the bucket is centrally provided so as to advantageously place the trays relative to the pile or bed of material to be excavated or operated upon when the bucket is open, with the relative arrangement of the parts furthermore such that the bars or links pivotally connected to each tray will cross the bars or links pivotallyconnected to the other tray below the bail and not depend below the lower surfaces of the levers at a point in under the bail when the bucket is open.

With these objects in view this invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clam-shell bucket and connected bucket-operating mechanism embodying our invention, and in this figure the bucket is shown closed. Fig. 2 is a right- I hand side elevation relative to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan relative to Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the bucket and connected mechanism with the bucket open.

Referring to the drawings, A and A indi- I cate two oppositely-arranged trays which form the body portion of our improved bucket. The trays A and A swing rearwardly from or forwardly toward each other The bucket illustrated is shown closed in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and open in Fig. 4.. Each tray is provided at its rear end and near the top according as the bucket is opened or closed.

thereof with an axle a, which is arranged h0r1- zontally and transversely of the tray. The axles a, of the two trays are parallel and arranged in the same plane horizontally. The trays A and A in opening and closing swing in a vertical plane upon the axles a.

Each axle a has bearing in the rear ends of two parallel bars B, which are arranged at opposite sides, respectively, of the tray journaled on the said axle and in the closed position of the bucket, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, extend upwardly, as-well as forwardly, relative to the said tray. It will be observed, therefore, that the trays A and A have bearing on the axles a and that the latter have bearing in the rear ends of the bars B. The bars B are pivoted at their forward ends, as at b, horizontally and parallel with the axles a to the lower ends of the end members 12 and 13 of a bail.

Two levers C and O are operatively attached to the tray A. The levers D and D are 0peratively attached to the tray A. The levers C C and D D are fulcrumed horizontally and parallel with the axes of the trays to the end members 12 and 13 of a bail whose upper and central portions comprise two horizontal axles 14 and 15, which are arranged in the same plane horizontally and parallel with each other and with the axles a. The axles 14 and 15 have bearing in the upper ends of both end members 12 and 13 of the bail. The levers C C and D D have their fulcrums coincident and formed by horizontally-arranged axles 16 and 17, which extend through the bail members 12 and 13, respectively, at the lower ends of the said bail members. The axles 16 and 17 are parallel with the axes of the trays and arranged in line endwise. The bail members 12 and 13 are tied together and braced apart above the fulcrums of the I of the levers and above the connection of the said levers With'the trays. The levers C C are shown pivoted at their lower ends, as at 18, to opposite sides, respectively, of the tray A horizontally and parallel with the axis of the said tray at'the upper portionof the for ward end of the'tray. "Thelevers D' D are pivoted at their lowerends, as at'20, toopposite sides, respectively, of the'tray A"'horizontally and parallel with the axis-of the said tray atthe upper portionof the forward end of the tray. It will be observed, therefore, that the levers Cand D at 'one side ofthe bucket are fulcrumed to the 'bail member '13 by means of the axle 16','th'at the levers Qand D'at'the'opposite side of the bucket" are fulcrum'ed to the bail member 12 by'meansof the axle l7, that'the pivotal connections'between the bars B and the'levers'U-and D are arranged be1ow,"'but: at opposite sides, respectively, bf the fulc'rumsof "the levers, C and D; and that' whenthe bucket is closed, asshown in Fig. 1,the bars B which" connect the levers C'with the tray A are"wholly"arranged at one side 'o'f'the axesof the levers C and D and at theouter sides of the-levers O and the bars B which corine'ca'the'leverswith "the tray A are wholly arranged at the opposite side of the said axes and atthe inner side of the'levers D.

The levers G and C are connected together and braced apart at and abovetheir axes (see Figs. 2 and 3) by a frame dfwhi ch is journaled upon the axles16 and 17 and connected at the top to'the said levers by axles 2 4, which are horizontally arrangedparallel withthe axes-of the said levers and in line endwise' and attached to and borne by the: said-frame and the said levers. Upon each axle 22 is loosely mounted a'giiide-sheave 23 and upon each axle 24 is loos'elymounted a guide-sheave 25.

Two bucket-closing cables G and are suitably'attached' at one end to the axle fl l, thence lead downwardly to'a'nd around the sheaves 25 connected with the *upper ends of'the levers 'D, thence lead innmder the sheaves 23, connected with "the upperrends of the levers O, thence lead intoengagement with guide-sheaves "26,wl'1i'ch' are"lo'osely mounted onthe axle 15, andthence lead to winding-drums or means (not shown) em- :p-loyedi'in operating the said cables.

The leversG'areLprovided at their upper ends with guards 27, arranged to prevent displacement of 'thecables Gr from the sheaves 23. The levers D are provided at their upper ends with guards 28, arranged to prevent displacement of the'cables G from the sheaves 25. The upper portions of the levers D are provided with laterally-projecting stop-forming lugs 30, which are'engaged bythe levers C :when'the bucket is'full'open' and limit the movement of the levers as-requiredin operatingthe' levers to separatethetrays A and A5 in opening" the bucket.

1 Upon each axle'a between the'bars B, connected'with thesaid axle, is iournal'ed a'clevis 's'ui'tablyattached to theclevis of the diflerent- L. Two-bucket-hol'ding c'ables B and R are axles a and (1, respectively, and'lead from the connected-clevisi upwardly to and in under guide-sheaves 34 and 35, respectively,- which 'are'loosely mounted on'the axles 14 and 15, respectively. (See Figs 2 "and '3.) "The axles 14'arid 15'areprovidedwith a guard 32,

arranged to prevent displacement ofthe ca- -bles R fromt-he'sheaves '34Q-and 35, whi'ch guardextends' over the said sheaves and is I provided with holes 33, arrangedto'accommodate the extension of the said cables through theguard upwardly'from the sheaves.

The cables .R are operated--inany' approved manner.

.Ca-ble operating' devices are too'well' known in the art torequire illustrationand description in this application.

The axle 15 is provided with guards 36 arranged to prevent displacement of 'the cables Gfrom the sheaves 26.

Itwill"be"observed that-thebuckectrays A andf'A: are, "when-the biicketis laden and closed and suspend'edovera pile'or bedof material, opened by thegra'vity' ofthe bucket and contents uponholding the cables Rand releasing" the bucket closing cables G, 3 that the bucket ,wh'en open,"is"cl-osed'by actuating the-"levers G and "D upon'w'vinding up i-orp'i'ill ing onthecablesG,and that'when the bucket isi o'pen, as shown inFig. f1,-the "bars B-attached'to'feach tray cross the bars-B attached to "the other -tray below the'bail and-do -not depend below the lower surfaces of the levers.

What weclaim is 1. In a clam-shell buckethavi'ng two trays arran ed to swingtowardbr from each other accof ingas thebu-cket isopened'orcl'osed, the combina'tionof the trays; a bail arranged centrally of the bucket laterally-spaced levers ,operatively'attached to one of the trays and "laterally-spaced" levers operatively' attached to the other tray, said levers being all pivotally connected with-or fulcr'umed-td'the bail and "the levers' attached" to each tray crossing the levers attached to the other tray I at the fulcrums of the levers; bars pivotally connected to the trays rearwardly of the levers, and the bars pivotally connected to each tray being pivoted also to the levers attached to the other tray at a point below the axes of the levers, and means for operating the levers, and the relative arrangement of the parts being such that when the bucket is closed the bars attached to the levers secured to one of the trays are wholly arranged at one side of the axes of the bail and the bars attached to the levers secured to the other tray are wholly arranged at the opposite side of the said axis. 7

2. In a clam-shell bucket having two trays arranged to swing toward or from each other according as the bucket is opened or closed, the combination of the trays; a bail arranged centrally of the bucket; laterally-spaced levers operatively attached to and at the forward end of one of the trays and laterallyspaced levers operatively attached to and at the forward end of the other tray, said levers being all pivotally connected with or fulcrumed to the bail, and the levers attached to each tray crossing the levers attached to the other tray at the fulcrums of the levers; bars pivoted to one of the trays rearwardly and at the outer sides of the levers attached to the respective tray, and bars pivotally connected to the other tray rearwardly of and at the inner sides of the levers attached to the last-mentioned tray, with the bars extending from the connected tray toward and pivoted also to the levers attached to the other tray at a point below the axes of the levers, and means for operating the levers, all arranged and operating substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

3. In a clam-shell bucket having two trays arranged to swing toward or from each other according as the bucket is opened or closed, the combination of the trays; a bail arranged centrally of the bucket; levers operatively attached to and at the forward end of one of the trays and levers operatively attached to and at the forward end of the other tray, said levers being all fulcrumed to the bail and the levers attached to each tray crossing the levers attached to the other tray at their fulcrums; bars pivotally connected to the trays rearwardly of the levers, with the bars pivotally supported also below but in suitable proximity to the axes of the levers, and means for operating the levers, and the parts having such relative arrangement that when the bucket is closed the bars attached to the levers secured to one of the trays are wholl arranged at one side of the axis of the bail and the bars attached to the levers secured to the other tray are wholly arranged at the opposite side of the said axis.

4. In a clam-shell bucket having two trays arranged to swing toward or from each other according as the bucket is opened or closed, the combination of the trays; an upright bail arranged centrally and transversely of the bucket and having end members arranged a suitable distance apart laterally; levers operatively attached to the trays at the forward ends of the trays and pivotally connected or fulcrumed to the lower portions of the end members of the bail; bars pivotally connected to the rear portions of the trays and pivoted to the levers below the fulcrums of the levers, and means for operating the levers, and the pivotal connections between each lever and the connected bar being arranged below the axes of the levers, with the relative arrangement of the parts such that when the bucket is open the bars or links pivotally connected {to each tray cross the bars or links pivotally connected to the other tray below the bail and are arranged wholly above the lower surfaces of the levers.

5. In a clameshell bucket having two trays arranged to swing toward or from each other according as the bucket is opened or closed, the combination of the said trays; an upright bail arranged centrally of the bucket; levers;

operatively attached to the trays at the forward ends of the trays and pivotally connected or fulcrumed to the bail; bars pivotally connected to the rear portions of the trays and pivoted to the levers below the fulcrums of the levers, and means for operating the levers, and the pivotal connection between each bar and the connected lever at one side of the axes of the levers and the pivotal connection between each bar and the connected lever at the opposite side of the axes of the levers being arranged both below but at opposite sides respectively of and equidistantly from the said axes so that when the bucket is open the bars or links pivotally connected to each tray cross the bars or links pivotally connected to the other tray below the ball.

6. In a clam-shell bucket having two trays arranged to swing from or toward each other according as the bucket is opened or closed, the combination of the trays; a bail arranged centrally of the bucket and provided at the top with sheaves; upright levers operatively attached to the forward portions of the trays and supported from the bail; sheaves borne by the levers at the upper ends of the levers; bars pivoted at one end to the rear portions of the trays and pivotally supported at the other end; cables attached to the upper portion of the bail, thence leading to and around the sheaves of the lever or levers attached to one of the trays, thence leading to and in under the sheaves of the lever or levers attached to the other tray, and thence in under the aforesaid sheaves of the bail; and guards supported from the bail and arranged to prevent displacement of the cables from the last-mentioned sheaves.

7. In a clam-shell bucket having two trays arranged to swing from or toward each other according as the bucket is opened or closed, the combination of the trays; a bail arranged centrally of the bucket and havingend members which are arranged a suitable distance apart laterally and an upper central portion comprising two parallel axles extending between the end members of the bail; two upright levers operatively attached to opposite sides respectively of the forward portions of one of the trays and fulcrumed to the different end members respectively of the bail; two upright levers operatively attached to opposite sides respectively of the forward portion of the other of the said'trays and fulcrumed to the different end members respectively of the bail and crossing the first-mentioned levers, with the axes of all of the said levers parallel with the axes of the trays; sheaves borne by the levers at the upper ends of the levers; bars pivotally connected at one end to the rear portions of the trays-and pivaxle; cables attached to the other of the aforesaid axles, thence leading to and around the sheaves of the levers attached to one of the trays, thence leading to and in under the sheaves of the levers attached to the other tray, and thence in under the aforesaid axlesheaves, and guards mounted on the lastmentioned axles and arranged to prevent displacement of the cables from the axlesheaves.

Signed by us at Cleveland, Ohio, this 21st day of October, 1905.

ROBERT W. KALTENBAOH. JUSTIN GRIESS,JR. Witnesses:

O. H. DORER, B. 0. BROWN. 

